Thoughts for the Day

Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’ This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Do you show emotion when watching a sad film, or when others share their news of the death of loved ones? Do you find it hard to contain your feelings then, and feel awkward if your eyes fill with tears? In Britain we are not known for overt shows of compassion at funerals, although I can remember a number of services where the deceased was a teenager, and with all their friends at their first funeral, there was a low sound of sobbing throughout the church. Then there was the incident of the two traveller women who jumped into the grave screaming and wailing as the coffin of their grandson arrived at the cemetery.

So picture the story at Nain as Jesus and his disciples arrive. The procession is led by the professional mourners with flutes and cymbals, their frenzied noise expressing intense grief. In the middle is the widow whose only son has died. We don't know his age, but possibly he was her only source of income and of protection. All of us, as with the inhabitants of the village are full of sadness for her.

Jesus, we read also 'had compassion for her'. In Greek the word for 'had compassion' (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη) means something like 'to have our very bowels yearn', or as we might say 'the core of our being', it's one of the strongest of words. It's this kind of compassion that our Lord felt for the widow of Nain, and because of it he acted. It gives us some idea of the kind of compassion that God has for us today, as He yearns for us, His children, to follow His ways.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we see in Luke's Gospel,
the way you had compassion
for a poor widow,
whose only son had just died.
May we learn true compassion
for all those in such need.
May we walk alongside them,
just to be there when needed,
and to give what comfort we can.
Teach us also when to be silent
when to speak,
and when to pray.
Amen.